Kate and Will's special return to place where they lived away from the spotlight

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have returned to the country where they lived as newlyweds and new parents before taking on a greater role in the monarchy.

Prince William and Kate spent a busy day in Wales, celebrating businesses and local communities in The Mumbles and Port Talbot.

They began the visit by meeting with members and volunteers at The Mumbles' Lifeboat Stations, many of whom are available 24/7 to help saves lives at sea.

William and Kate then moved to the Tata Steel in Port Talbot for a tour of the Hot Strip Mill, a vital employer for the community.

The royal couple stopped by Joe's Ice Cream Parlour, where the duchess had a scoop of vanilla with a wafer – the same served to nursery children she and William met while inside. William, a self-confessed "chocolate man", had sprinkles on his.

Kate spoke with five families and carers about life in The Mumbles as part of the duchess's early childhood survey '5 Big Questions on the Under Fives'. The duchess launched the online survey on January 21, which coincided with a series of in-person visits, aiming to create a nation-wide conversation on raising the next generation.

William and Kate then moved on to the Bulldogs Boxing Community in Port Talbot, where they heard about the power of boxing to involve, educate and inspire the community, including young people who may have been affected by adverse childhood experiences and mental health issues.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid tribute to their hosts by wearing the colours of the Welsh flag – red and green.

Kate wore a red Zara dress with a red and white scarf from Beulah London and covered up from the chilly seven degrees Celcius weather in a navy Hobbs coat and Stuart Weitzman boots. She wore her red Mulberry bag and her gold and diamond Asprey oak leaf earrings.

William wore a bottle-green jumper underneath a navy blazer.

The return to Wales was a poignant one for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who spent a crucial three years there between 2010-2013.

They lived on the island of Anglesey, in northern Wales, when William worked as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot. 

William and Kate made a home for themselves in a seaside farmhouse in Bodowen, which they rented and lived a life of relative anonymity.

They were able to move about the community as locals without the pressure of life in the constant spotlight. Kate was often seen shopping in the supermarket and walking their dog, Lupo, in the park.

Even after their wedding at Westminster Abbey in 2011, William and Kate returned to their cottage in Anglesea and lived as newlyweds before the arrival of their first child.

When Prince George was born in July, 2013, Kate's mum Carole moved in to help look after the baby while the Queen's former housekeeper Antonella Fresolone travelled there to cook following the prince's birth.

When William and Kate's time in Anglesey came to an end, and they moved to their country estate Anmer Hall in Norfolk, the Duke of Cambridge spoke about their time in Wales, saying he and his wife would "miss it terribly".

William retired from the RAF to begin his new life as a full-time working royal in preparation for his eventual role as king.

"I know that I speak for Catherine when I say I have never in my life known somewhere as beautiful and as welcoming as Anglesey," William told locals at the Anglesea show in 2013, shortly after Prince George's birth.

He added: "I know that both of us will miss it terribly when my search and rescue tour of duty comes to an end next month and we have to move elsewhere.

"From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making my wife and me so welcome when we arrived here."

Much like Prince Harry and Meghan, who are in the process of making a new life in Canada, William and Kate cherished their time away from the fishbowl life of the royal family. But unlike the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, William and Kate moved back to London because they have their roles as future King of England and Queen Consort to prepare for.